What Kind Of Shoes Do I Need For Bicycle Touring?

The shoes you wear while touring on your bicycle will dictate a lot of your tour and will be one of the most basic decisions you will need to make. Do you want dedicated, hard-soled cycling shoes? Or will regular sneakers work for you?

The first thing you'll have to decide is what kind of tour you plan to do. Will you be on the bike most of the day? Or will you be out hiking and sightseeing a lot? Depending on your needs, there are advantages and disadvantages of each type of shoes.

Cleats: Many cyclists find they are more comfortable in dedicated, hard-soled cycling shoes. These are designed with rigid soles to transfer energy to the pedals more efficiently and cleats to hold your feet firmly on the pedals. You will be able to pull up as well as push down, using your entire pedal stroke to power your bike.

In addition, dedicated bicycling shoes have a hard sole to transfer energy more efficiently and prevent energy being absorbed by the rubber. Because they are made for cycling, they are reinforced in all the right places and will last longer. At the end of a long day on the bike, your feet will feel much better than with regular sneakers as the pressure of the pedal is distributed throughout the entire sole rather than being concentrated on the ball of your foot.

However, that efficiency and comfort comes at a price. Due to the stiffness of the shoes, it is very difficult to walk in cleats. When you need to go into the grocery store or walk across a bridge or take a quick hike back to a waterfall, you will have to change your shoes. As soon as you arrive in the campsite, your first task will be to dig out your other shoes and put them on. Climbing an embankment for a better photo may end up being more hassle than it's worth.

Hybrid shoes: One alternative to the stiff-soled cycling shoes is mountain bike shoes. These have more flexible soles, but are still stiff enough to make your pedal stroke fairly efficient. Mountain bikers use these shoes as they need the rigidity of cycling shoes, but still need to be able to get off and run on a regular basis.

Mountain bike shoes are great for the tourist in that they are reasonably efficient and much more comfortable for walking than stiff-soled cycling shoes. Many tourists find one pair of these is all they need. Because the cleat is recessed, you will be able to walk through grocery stores or go for short hikes no problem. In the campground, you can continue to wear your cycling shoes rather than having to change.

Some people, however, don't find mountain bike shoes comfortable on long walks, and need to carry other shoes for hiking or long sightseeing trips in cities. If you find yourself walking in mud, the cleats will get clogged up and you'll need to scrape them clean with a stick.

Regular sneakers: The simplest and least energy efficient option is to use regular shoes. You will lose a certain amount of your energy to your shoe, but many people find the convenience of only one pair of shoes worth it. Look for trail runners such as Salomons or Keens that are designed to flex upward for walking, but not downward over rocks or pedals.

If you choose the low tech, regular shoe option, you'll need to consider how you will keep your feet on your pedals. You may use toe clips, Power Grips, or spiky pedals to prevent your feet from flying off.

There is no one right answer to this question and much of your decision will be based on personal preference. I've gone around the block a few times and have used all the options listed above - and then come right back to plain ol' sneakers. Try them all and see what works for you!